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Greetings!
Happy Spring! Finally - it looks like the Chicago area is finally emerging from winter's grip. With a touch of spring fever, budding foliage, and March Madness also comes the delight of tax day and associative planning. April 15 is just around the corner, and on that note, I'm going to remind you that it's not too late to take advantage of some of the Federal and State Tax Incentives that have recently been adopted. Be sure to read the article below, "Green Credits for Taxing Times."
In the meantime, enjoy the warmer weather, and delight in the seasonal opportunities to benefit from healthy outdoor activities - open windows, plan gardens and other outdoor spaces, or do some spring cleaning (you'll feel great when it's done)! And of course, call Full Circle to help you plan any architectural or design projects that would help you bring more of the outdoors in, maximize views or natural light, or create spaces that connect you with nature in an optimal way!
All the Best,
Lenore
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News Around the Circle
Recent & Upcoming FCA Events:
Thursday, February 25, 2010: Edu-Tainment Fundraiser:
Healthy Homes 2010: Design Strategies for Personal Well-Being
With the new year in full swing - and resolutions for healthy lifestyles still active - we assembled wellness experts Katie Bernhard of Sherwin Williams, Joe Silver of Green Depot Chicago, and Sharon Weinstein, Certified Physical and Environmental Wellness Specialist to speak about how to create and maintain healthy home environments. With relevant and practical information on how - and why - your overall well-being is clearly linked to your immediate surroundings, our guests learned a great deal about how to maximize their homes' ability to nourish the body and soul. While this was a free event, our generous visitors contributed to our effort to raise funds for the rebuilding of Haiti.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010:
Chicago Public Schools Outreach Program
Full Circle Architects together with St. Aubin, Haggerty & Associates, Inc. hosted a "Career Day" experience for students of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), students came to learn what it's like to own a company. With a mixture of group sessions and one-on-one meetings between students and different business owners, the entire experience turned out to be incredibly rewarding for both students and business owners alike.
The NAWBO business owners who donated their time and talent were:
Saturday/Sunday March 13/14:
A production crew from MTV's Teen Cribs came from New York to shoot one of our recently completed projects for an upcoming show segment. Stay tuned for more information about programming time and date!
March 2010:
Are you Hob Nobbing Yet?
She will be contributing articles about architecture and design twice a month; if you have any specific topics requests, e-mail Lenore and let her know! In the meantime, if you haven't visited the Hob Nob North Shore website yet, take a tour of this fun and informative e-zine to see what's new and exciting around Chicago's North Shore. |
Condo News
Saturday, March 20, 2010
ACTHA Spring Conference
Dan Baigelman presented a seminar titled: "Buildings: Age Before Beauty." Dan spoke about which building components with problems require immediate and on-going attention, and which components could be considered for short-term and less costly solutions. He also covered what to expect in standard property inspections and highlighted the "forgotten" areas that boards should be especially cognizant of.
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Did You Know? Green Credits for Taxing Times
If you've put off doing any home improvements in 2009, you'll be happy to know that energy efficiency tax credits have been extended to 2010. So if you're thinking about remodeling projects that include energy efficient windows and doors, new roofing, improved insulation or new HVAC equipment, be sure it can be placed in service before December 31, 2010 in order to be able to claim the tax credit for the year it was installed. A good resource to check eligibility is the Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Website . Also, Illinois is offering an instant rebate program this year, known as "Cash for Appliances" to help residents replace older, inefficient appliances with Energy Star-qualified models. From April 16-25, coinciding with Earth Day, consumers can receive 15 percent markdowns on the following Energy Star appliances at select retail locations:
Refrigerators
Freezers
Clothes washers
Dish washers
Room air conditioners
An additional mail-in rebate of $75 for refrigerators and freezers will be available upon pick-up and recycling of the old unit. To verify eligibility and view restrictions, check out Illinois' Energy Star Appliance Rebate Program Website .
If home improvements have not been on your agenda but a new home is, then other credits could apply to you. The IRS now offers tax credits for new home buyers that enter into a binding contract by April 30, 2010; the buyer has until June 30, 2010 to actually settle on the purchase. First time home buyers can receive an $8,000 tax credit, and move-up or repeat home buyers can get a $6,500 Tax Credit. Refer to the IRS website to see if this credit applies to you. Of course, whether your interest is in tax credits or rebates for energy efficiency improvements to your existing home or for the purchase of a new home, there are several requirements that need to be met. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax professional to get the details and to confirm eligibility.
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Full Circle Architects has recently become involved with a very worthy charitable organization called Designs for Dignity. A nonprofit resource, Designs for Dignity (D4D) shares our belief that the built environment can have a transformative impact on the experience of those in need. Often, those who could benefit the most from good design often have the least access to it. The mission of D4D is to engage the design community and all of its resources to respond to this need. As part of that mission, D4D provides pro bono design services to area nonprofits to create environments that reflect dignity, hope and comfort.
Projects range in scope from small to large and include childcare facilities, assisted living centers, shelters for survivors of domestic abuse, supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals and much more. For both the people who work in these organizations and those who come there to be helped, environments that enhance our work efforts and comfort our spirits provide a sense of caring that nurtures human beings.
In the spirit of this work, the group's largest annual fundraising event, the 2010 Spirit Award Night, will take place on Wednesday, May 12th from 6pm to 9pm at the Chicago Cultural Center. The evening will feature the presentation of awards, food and cocktails, and a silent auction to benefit D4D. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket for this fundraiser, please visit the Spirit Awards Website or contact us.
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Michael Fries, FCA Project Manager, has been selected as one of this year's Lake County Cares "i Care Award" recipients. Lake County Cares is a volunteer service agency that strengthens communities in Lake County by operating essential outreach programs. Each year, the Agency recognizes members of the community who have made volunteering part of their everyday lifestyle, demonstrating a genuine passion for giving of themselves for the betterment of others.
For the past 8 years, Michael has volunteered as a Boy Scout Leader with Troop 42 Lake Bluff. As an Eagle Scout, Michael volunteers for Boy Scouts even though he has no children of his own. Under his leadership as Scoutmaster, the Troop has grown to over 50 Scouts with an average of 3 Eagle Scouts graduating each year. The Scouts in Troop 42 in turn serve the communities of Lake Bluff and Knollwood with community service projects.
When Michael is not camping with the Boy Scouts, he can be found at the Knollwood Volunteer Fire Department. The Department serves Knollwood, an unincorporated area of Lake Bluff, and the surrounding communities of North Chicago, Libertyville, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. Michael is an Illinois State Certified Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He has been a member of the Department for 8 years.
We are grateful to have Michael as part of our Full Circle Team, and congratulate him for Lake County's official recognition of his altruistic endeavors.
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Lost and Found
A black, white and grey scarf was left at our office during our last
Edu-tainment event. If you know who this belongs to, please let us know!
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